Accessory system for motor vehicles



Jan. 16, 1951 A. RAPPL AccxarssoRY SYSTEM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed Jan. 26, 1949 INVENTOR Anto/7 Happ/ @m MTM, @M

ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 16, 1951 ACCESSORY SYSTEM Fon MOTOR VEHICLES- Anton Rappl, Eggertsville, N. Y., assignor to Trico Products Corporation, Buialo, N. Y.

Application January 26, 1949, Serial No. 72,966

(Cl. (S- 14) 11 Claims.

This invention relates to the automotive accessory art and has" for its object to provide a iiuid pressure actuated system which, while operating primarily on the fluctuating pressure inuence of the engine intake when ample, will always have available pressure for accessory performance at all times.

The invention further has for its object to provide a uid pressure system having a secondary pressure source which is'brought under the control of the primary source in a unique and novel manner.

The foregoing and other objects will manifest themselves as this description progresses, reference being made herein to the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic showing of the general layout of the system;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the air pump Or compressor;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the air-bleed valve for the pump; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in section through the iiow controlled switch.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral I designates the intake manifold, 2 an accessory, such as a windshield cleaner, 3 its control valve operable remotely by a exible cable 4 and knob 4', and 5 the suction line connecting the accessory to the manifold. A pump t, driven preferably by an electric motor 1, is connected into thesuction line and between this point of connection and the cleaner is interposed a ow controlled switch 8 designed to close the pump circuit 9 to the source of electrical energy I0 when the manifold suction influence is insufficient for accessory operation. For deterf mining such time of functioning the circuit includes a suction responsive switch II which responds to the manifold suction, as will hereinafter appear.

The ow controlled switch 8 illustrated in Fig. 4 comprises a chamber I2, a diaphragm I3 therein, spaced xed contacts I5, and a bridging` contact I4, the latter being carried by the diaphragm and normally urged to its circuit opening position by a spring I6. The diaphragm has a central opening closed by a valve I1 under the urge of the spring and also by the urge of a finer adjustment spring I8 compressed beneath a head I9 and supported by a stem 20. This stem is anchored by a cross pin extending across the central opening and engaged with the opposite side of the diaphragm.

The suction responsive switch illustrated in Fig. 2 comprises a diaphragm 22, a bridging contact 23 carried thereby, fixed contacts 24, and a suction chamber 25 connected to the pump bypass 2l by passage 28. This passage is normally closed to the manifold suction by a spring pressed valve 21 which latter is unseated by a high vacuum to open the circuit. The presence of a manifold influence of a predetermined degree will hold the bridging contact inoperative against the urge of a spring 28, but its absence will permit the valve 21 to close off the suction and open the chamber 25 to the atmosphere through a filter 21' whereupon the 'spring 28 will close the circuit through the contacts 23 and 24.

Upon opening the cleaner valve 3, the airflow through the dow controlled switch 8 will close the latter but will not necessarily complete the motor circuit 9 unless a deficient manifold inuence has cooperated concurrently by enabling the spring 28 to close the suction responsive switch II in which event the motor driven pump will operate as a secondary source of suction in replacement of the primary source I. Should the pump be operating at the time of discontinuing the use of the accessory, the closing of the accessory valve 3 will interrupt the air ilow through the switch 8 and thereby open the pump circuit to arrest the pump. The flow controlled switch may be designed to close upon any prescribed air flow from the accessory, for example, one which will subject the diaphragm I 3v to one inch pressure differential more or less.

A second accessory, such as the window regulator 29 having a chamber 38 with a piston 3| therein, is normally connected to the manifold 2 by a branch suction line 32 designed to be connected selectively by either solenoidal valve 33 to the pressure or delivery side of the pump 6 by a pressure line 34, the valve acting at the same time to disrupt the corresponding suction communication. I'he solenoid valve is placed in a circuit 35 with the electrical source I0 and arelay switch 36 by a manual switch 31 which energizes the relay and closes a motor circuit 35' to start the pump. A normally closed, atmospheric port 38 at the inlet side of the pump is opened by a solenoid valve 39 in the branch circuit 35" to admit ample air to the pump for being discharged into the pressure line 34. A spring closed venting valve 40 in the pressure line will maintain a. desired maximum pressure on the compressed duid supplied the window regulator as well as also provide a way of escape for the pump exhaust when serving as a sourcel of suction for the windshield cleaner.

The window regulator normally is at rest, and when operated its interval of operation is only momentarily for either full opening or full closing window movement. In such normal position f rest, the adjacent solenoidal valve 33 will open .communication between conduits 32 and 34 in bypass relation to the motor 30, 3| so that the manifold will evacuate the line of communication 32, 34 to the pump bypass 2| to open the switch Il when the manifold suction is sufficient. A check valve prevents the pump pulling the combustible mixture over from the manifold through the conduits 5 and 6.

The pump, therefore, serves as a source of pressure for both accessories, functioning, with respect to the manifold suction influence, in an auxiliary capacity as a negative pressure producer for the one accessory and in a cooperative manner as a positive pressure generator for the other accessory but in both cases capable of acting in a sole capacity.

In this disclosure the pump is accorded a tertiary function in that it furnishes the fuel feeding system with a motivating pressure. According to the illustrated embodiment, a branch pressure line 42 leads to the fuel supply tank 43 but is normally closed by a solenoidal valve 44. The fuel line 45, from the tank to the carburetor 46, has a pressure responsive switch 41 which is connected to the valve 44 and to the pump motor by circuit connections 48 and to the atmospheric inlet valve 39 by a branch circuit connection 49 joining with the branch connection 35". A lead 50 from the electrical source I0 may be common to all of the circuits 9, 35, 35', 35, 48 and 49 and is so depicted herein.

The fuel feeding circuit 48 is opened andclosed by the ignition switch 5|. When the ignition switch is closed the fuel circuit is from the electrical source I0 through wire 50, ignition switch 5|, solenoidal valve 44, fuel pressure switch 41, to the pump motor 1, and the ground, with a branch 49 leading through the solenoid valve 39 to the ground. The ignition switch also controls the release of superatmospheric pressure from the fuel tank when the vehicle is parked. This pressure release is effected by means of a valve 52 interposed in a vent pipe 53 which latter may discharge into the atmosphere, as shown, or it may be carried over into the air intake pipe 54 of the carburetor.

The triple accessory system of the present invention is simple and compact, the pump being common to each part thereof. One accessory is wholly actuated by suction while in another the pressure and suction coact to provide a greater pressure differential for better performance of the larger accessory. The fuel system is energized immediately upon turning the ignition switch to its circuit closing position and is relieved of its excess pressure, deemed a fire hazard in parked automobiles, when the ignition switch is opened. The desired application of pressure upon the fuel is maintained by the fuel switch 4l and the normally closed transfer valve 44. The system is eiiicient and practical, and while the foregoing description has been given in detail it is without thought of limitation since the inventive principles involved are capable of assuming other physical embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. vA combined vehicle fuel feeding and acces- Sory system comprising a fuel supply tank, a

primary accessory, a secondary accessory, a source ofA negative pressure adapted for communicating with both accessories, a pressure generator communicating with one accessory and with the tank, means responsive to the tank pressure for disconnecting the generator from the tank, means for operating the pressure generator and concurrently establishing communication between the source of negative pressure and said one accessory for operating the latter by both pressures. and meansoperatively connecting the other accessory to the source of negative pressure for operation solely thereby.

2. An accessory system for motor vehicles comprising a source of fluctuating suction, an accessory, means operatively connecting the accessory to the source for actuation thereby when of sufficient degree, a compressor having an inlet connected to the accessory to serve as a secondary source of suction, means responsive to the fluctuating suction when insufficient for accessory operation to operate the compressor, a secondary accessory connected 4to the outlet of the compressor for positive pressure actuation, and control means for the second accessory operable to actuate the compressor as a source of positive pressure independently of the iirst accessory.

3. An accessory system for motor vehicles comprising a source of fluctuating suction, an accessory, means operatively connecting the accessory to the source for actuation thereby when of sufficient degree, a compressor having an inlet connected to the accessory to serve as a secondary source of suction, means responsive to the fluctuating suction when insuflicient for accessory operation to operate the compressor, a secondary accessory connected to the outlet of the compressor for positive pressure actuation, an atmospheric air valve at the inlet side of the compressor for admitting air thereinto for such positive pressure actuation, and control means for the second accessory operable to actuate the compressor as a source of positive pressure independently of the first accessory.

4. An accessory system for motor vehicles comprising a source of fluctuating suction, an accessory, means operatively connecting the accessory to the source for actuation thereby when of sufficient degree, a compressor having an inlet connected to the accessory to serve as a secondary source of suction, means responsive to the fluctuating suction when insufficient for accessory operation to operate the compressor, a secondary accessory connected to the outlet of the compressor for positive pressure actuation, control means for the second accessory operable to actuate the compressor as a source of positive pressure independently of the first accessory, and means operable by said control means for opening the inlet side of the compressor to the atmosphere for such positive pressure actuation. l

5. An accessory system for motor vehicles comprising a source of fluctuating suction, an accessory, means operatively connecting the accessory to the source for actuation thereby when of sufcient degree, a compressor having an inlet connected to the accessory to serve as a secondary source of suction, means responsive to the fluctuating suction when insufiicient for accessory operation to operate the compressor, a secondary accessory connected to the outlet of the compressor for positive pressure actuation, means connecting the first source of suction to the second accessory for actuation of the latter by the pressure difference between the suction and the superatmospheric pressure supplied, and control means for the second accessory operable to energize the compressor.

6. An accessory system for motor vehicles comprising a source of iluctuating suction, an accessory, means operatively' connecting the accessory to the source for actuation thereby when of sufilcient degree, a compressor having an inlet connected to the accessory to serve as a secondary source oi' suction, means responsive to the iiuctuating suction when insuilcient for accessory operation to operate the compressor, a secondary accessory connected to the outlet of the compressor for positive pressure actuation, control means for the second accessory operable to actuate the compressor as a source of positive pressure independently of the ilrst accessory, means operable by said control means for opening the inlet side of the compressor to the atmosphere for such positive pressure actuation, a third accessory requiring a maintained positive pressure and connected to the outlet of the compressor, and means responsive to the maintained pressure for energizing the compressor and concurrently operating the inletopening means independently of the control means.

7. An accessory system for motor vehicles comprising a source of uctuating suction, an accessory, means operatively connecting the accessory to the source for actuation thereby when of sufiicientl degree, a compressor having an inlet conn ected to the accessory to serve as a secondary source of suction, means responsive to the iluctuating suction when insuilicient for accessory operation to operate the compressor, a secondary accessory connected to the outlet of the compressor for positive pressure actuation, control means for the secon'd accessory operable to actuate the compressor as a source of positive pressure independently of the first accessory, means operable by said control means for opening the inlet side of the compressor to the atmosphere for such positive pressure actuation, a fuel supply tank for the motor vehicle, means operable to connect the outlet of the compressor to the tank for supplying it with a fuel feeding pressure, and means responsive to the tank pressure for energizing theA compressor independently of the control and con'- currently for operating said outlet connecting means.

8. An accessory system for motor vehicles comprising a source of fluctuating suction, an accessory, means operatively connecting the accessory to the source for actuation thereby when of sufcient degree, a compressor having an inlet connected to the accessory to serve as a secondary source of suction, means responsive to the nuctuating suction when insuillcient for accessory operation to operate the compressor, a-secondary accessory connected to the outlet of the compressor for positive pressure actuation, control means for the second accessory operable to actuate the compressor as a source of DOsitive sity, a compressor having an inlet connected to the accessory to serve as a secondary source of suction, electrical means for operating the compressor, a switch in circuit with the electrical means and responsive to the fluctuating suction e of a predetermined degree for maintaining the circuit open, a second switch connected in series with the rst switch and responsive to the ow of air from the accessory to either source for moving to a circuit closed position and operable to open the circuit when the accessory is arrested, and means for arresting the accessory.

10. An accessory system for motor vehicles comprising a source of suction, a source of positive pressure, an accessory connected to both sources for operation by the two pressures jointly, said second source being in the form of an electrically driven compressor having its outlet connected'to the accessory, a fuel supply tank having a delivery line and a pressure line, the latter being connected to the outlet from the compressor, means normally closing the pressure line to the' tank, a pressure switch in the delivery line, means connecting the switch and said closing means in series circuit with the compressor. and means for controlling the accessory operation.

1l. An accessory system for motor vehicles comprising a source of suction,` a source of positive pressure, an accessory connected to both sources for operation by the two pressures jointly, said second source being in the form of'an electrically driven Icompressor having its outlet connected to the accessory, a fuel supply tank having a delivery line and a pressure line, the latter being conn'ected to the outlet from the compressor, means normally closing the pressure line to the tank, a pressure switch in the delivery line, means connecting the switch and said closing ,means in series circuit with the compressor, a

switch for opening and closing the circuit, means under the control of the second switch i'or venting the fuel supply tank when such second switch is opened, and means for controlling the accespressure independently of the first accessory.

means operable by saidv control means for opening the inlet side of the compressor to the atmosphere for such positive pressure actuation, a fuel sory operation.

ANTON RAPPL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the Number Name 2,o95,833 Rockwell Oct. 12, 1937 Hamilton Aug. 18, 1942 

